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Replacing the Office Chair with an Exercise Ball

baron.vc

21–30 of 36 posts

Re: Replacing the Office Chair with an Exercise Ball

#21
post #14

I'd like to know the ages of the people commenting that they loved / hated it.

I'm 27 and used one at home for a long time. I really loved it and the only reason I stopped was that I got a hole in it. In general, it's not as comfortable as an Aeron, but it has a pretty high comfort to cost ratio.

That being said, since it was at home I was never on it as long as I would have been at work.

Re: Replacing the Office Chair with an Exercise Ball

#22
post #12

I have used an exercise ball instead of a chair for the past year or so and really like it. I tend to have a lot of nervous energy, and being able to bounce on the ball while still seated at my desk help a lot, without having to get up, walk around, and getting too distracted from what I am doing. A couple of caveats, though: 1) You really do look pretty silly, especially if you bounce 2) Some people develop lower ba…

I've also used exercise balls for a couple years now -- at home, and at the former office. You'll find that your core muscles (abdominal, in particular) tone up significantly, with almost no apparent effort. The inherent instability of sitting on what's essentially a balloon benefits more than just your posture. All those small adjustments you unconsciously make to maintain balance work muscles that you don't often get to work otherwise, and with a wider range of motion than pretty much all the traditional exercises that target those muscles offer, too. It's some of the best "passive exercise" available.

As for the concerns about being made fun of or judged or whatever, mentioned several places in this discussion, someone's judging you says more about them than it does you.

And, yes, they do tend to have a resonant effect on certain reverberative sounds...

Re: Replacing the Office Chair with an Exercise Ball

#23
post #14

I'd like to know the ages of the people commenting that they loved / hated it.

I'm 36, and have used them at home and at work for a couple years now. I gave away my old office chair -- not that it was a particularly nice one, but I don't need it any more.

Re: Replacing the Office Chair with an Exercise Ball

#24
post #13
post #9

I've found that the biggest problem with using an exercise ball is that everyone asks you why you are sitting on an exercise ball. That and it is fun to kick.

Yes, it's just not worth it to be of "those" people. Whatever benefits it gets, its just hard to take someone seriously when their sitting on a giant inflatable fucking ball.

[deleted]

Re: Replacing the Office Chair with an Exercise Ball

#27
post #26

It's all about programming in bed, while lying down.

I have never been able to achieve this. Where do you place your laptop? It's most comfortable for me when my laptop is on my stomach and my back is propped up but even then my neck is strained. How have you been able to make this position work?

Re: Replacing the Office Chair with an Exercise Ball

#28
post #12

I have used an exercise ball instead of a chair for the past year or so and really like it. I tend to have a lot of nervous energy, and being able to bounce on the ball while still seated at my desk help a lot, without having to get up, walk around, and getting too distracted from what I am doing. A couple of caveats, though: 1) You really do look pretty silly, especially if you bounce 2) Some people develop lower ba…

> If you had beans for dinner, beware, the ball tends to amplify sounds from down there

Also an issue with Aeron's "mesh"

Re: Replacing the Office Chair with an Exercise Ball

#29
post #27
post #26

It's all about programming in bed, while lying down.

I have never been able to achieve this. Where do you place your laptop? It's most comfortable for me when my laptop is on my stomach and my back is propped up but even then my neck is strained. How have you been able to make this position work?

You can make laptop stands for the bed like this from wood http://bedzine.com/blog/bed-furniture/laptop-stand-for-bed/ buy them online http://www.badbacks.com.au/shop/product/1897/223/laptop-laid... , or even make an experimental one from cardboard http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2009/05/build-a-sturdy-cardboar...

Re: Replacing the Office Chair with an Exercise Ball

#30
post #27
post #26

It's all about programming in bed, while lying down.

I have never been able to achieve this. Where do you place your laptop? It's most comfortable for me when my laptop is on my stomach and my back is propped up but even then my neck is strained. How have you been able to make this position work?

Actually i use a desktop PC while horizontal. My monitor is on a short table beside my bed, and I use a couple pillows for my head. Keyboard's on my lap.
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